Analysis Of Coming Out Under Fire

1162 Words3 Pages

Allen Berubé uses this book to describe the persecution of homosexual men and women in the U.S. Army. In Coming Out Under Fire, Berube explains the challenges faced by homosexuals trying to serve the United States and the awakening of the gay rights movement. Berubé examines in depth and detail these social and political confrontation. It was not simply written to explain how the military victimized homosexyals, but as a story to explain the dynamic power relationship developed between gay citizens and their government. Which then allowed both parts to change and grow. His story is the timeline of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” from 1916 until 2003. The military had to decide if homosexuality was or was not compatible with war. They decided it …show more content…

The military and many citizens condemned, humiliated, and sought to isolate homosexuals from being involved in the military or within their public life. The Second World War provided the opportunity for homosexuals to work together in order to have a plan for retaliation towards their persecution. Although the persecution was not easy, Berube argues that these past events forced lesbians and gays to come together which gave them the ability to develop a nationwide community for all homosexuals. Forced into the spotlight by the oppressive and fearful military apparatus and the unsure public, allowing them not to be hidden by this society anymore, homosexuals began to fight for equal rights in America and embrace who they really …show more content…

Personally, some of the language I wish had tried to pull the reader in more and have a call to action. Where this book more just let the reader know what happened, rather than point out that it was wrong and that one should have feelings towards it. The language would have strongly pushed persuasive vs. merely informative work. This book, however, seems reluctant to accept one of the book 's dominant themes: that not all gays faced discrimination. In fact, many homosexuals during World War II found love, happiness, and a shared sense of camaraderie previously unavailable to them in small-town America or in their

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